A Closer Walk
A CLOSER WALK
Greg Worthen
“All you need is love. ... ” John Lennon wrote this song but it is attributed to the Lennon- McCartney partnership. “Love never fails...”, God. This verse is found in 1 Corinthians 13:8. “All You Need Is Love” was written and released in 1967, the year of the Summer of Love. Scott McKenzie had a hit record that same year with a song named simply “San Francisco,” which was informing anyone who would listen that there would be a “Love In” that summer. The lyrics to “San Francisco” go like this, first stanza: “If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair, If you're going to San Francisco, You're gonna meet some gentle people there. Second stanza: For those who come to San Francisco, Summertime will be a love-in there, In the streets of San Francisco, Gentle people with flowers in their hair.”
The quotes above by Lennon and God sound somewhat similar. But are they referring to the same thing? Love for our fellow human beings is important. And a love for others is part of the motivation for missions and missions programs. More importantly, we as children of God are commanded to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:19-20 NASB. So we are to personally go, or we are to help send, evangelists and missionaries to places to share the gospel with our future bothers and sisters in Christ. And those places may be far away in another country, or they may be right around the corner in our own town.
The quote by God is stunning. “LOVE NEVER FAILS?” Many of us have been taught to never use the words always and never. Because here on earth nothing is perfect, and things happen. But is it the same with God? He is not of earth although He is with us perpetually and forever. “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth,” John 14:16-17 NASB. The Holy Spirit has been sent to abide with us forever and ever. Forever is a pretty long time. As the Holy Spirit indwells us He guides us to the correct path, and convicts us when we have stepped out of line. And He has been given as a pledge, or promise, of our future inheritance. “...you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory,” Ephesians 1:14 NASB. His importance and necessity cannot be overstated.
“LOVE NEVER FAILS?” The word translated love in the 1 Corinthians verse above is the Greek word agapao, sometimes called agape. Pastors repeatedly tell us that this love is an almost superhuman love. It is the same love Jesus displayed allowing Himself to be hung on a cross as payment for the sins of all people for all time. Again, pastors tell us that agape love is a choice to love. Example: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him,” John 3:16-17 NASB. Our God loved the people (His creation) in the world (His creation) so much that He was willing and made a choice to, sacrifice His One and Only Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Because of this great love He did not send His Son to judge the world, but so that the world would be saved through Him (Jesus). How do we know this? “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,” John 1:12-13 NASB.
Love never fails? In the case of Mr. Lennon, what happened after the Summer of Love? After the love-in was over and people left San Francisco what happened? In the case of God after we have been given the right to become children of God then what? He sends His Holy Spirit to indwell us and abide with us forever. Love never fails? In the case of our God that is absolutely true; and there can be no doubt as to His promise. We are children of God who will have eternal life in Heaven. Sounds pretty good to me.
Refrain: “Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me; Love lifted me, Love lifted me, When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. 2 All my heart to Him I give, Ever to Him I'll cling, In His blessed presence live, Ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true Merits my soul's best songs; Faithful, loving service, too, To Him belongs.” Refrain and second stanza from the hymn “Love Lifted Me”. Words by James Rowe, 1865-1933, music by Howard E. Smith, 1863-1918, an organist from Connecticut.